84R20404 LED-D
By: Elkins H.B. No. 2276
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2276:
By: Anderson of Dallas C.S.H.B. No. 2276
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the development and maintenance of certain records and
written policies of animal shelters and releasing agencies;
amending a provision subject to a criminal penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 823, Health and Safety
Code, is amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 823. ANIMAL SHELTERS AND RELEASING AGENCIES
SECTION 2. Section 823.001, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subdivision (5) to read as follows:
(5) "Releasing agency" has the meaning assigned by
Section 828.001.
SECTION 3. Section 823.003(e), Health and Safety Code, as
amended by S.B. No. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2015, is amended to read as follows:
(e) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall [may] require each person operating an
animal shelter to keep records as required by Section 823.010. The
board may require the animal shelter [of the date and disposition of
animals in its custody,] to maintain the records on the business
premises of the animal shelter[,] and to make the records available
for inspection at reasonable times.
SECTION 4. Chapter 823, Health and Safety Code, is amended
by adding Section 823.010 to read as follows:
Sec. 823.010. INTAKE AND DISPOSITION RECORDS FOR ANIMAL
SHELTERS AND RELEASING AGENCIES. (a) Each animal shelter or
releasing agency operated in this state shall prepare and maintain
records regarding the intake and disposition of animals in the care
of the shelter or agency, including:
(1) the total number of animals, categorized by
species, as dog, cat, or other, taken in by the animal shelter or
releasing agency and the reason an animal was taken in, including
whether the animal was:
(A) surrendered by the animal's owner;
(B) impounded as a stray;
(C) impounded for a reason other than being a
stray;
(D) confiscated;
(E) transferred to the shelter or agency from a
location in this state;
(F) transferred to the shelter or agency from a
location outside this state; or
(G) born in the shelter or under the care of the
agency;
(2) the number of animals at the animal shelter or
releasing agency on the last day of each month; and
(3) the disposition of each animal taken in by the
animal shelter or releasing agency, categorized by species,
including whether the animal:
(A) was adopted;
(B) was reclaimed by the animal's owner;
(C) died in the shelter or under the care of the
agency;
(D) was transferred from the shelter or agency;
(E) was euthanized by the shelter or agency on a
decision made by the shelter or agency;
(F) was euthanized at the owner's request;
(G) was a cat returned to the field as part of a
sterilization program; or
(H) was lost or stolen while in the shelter's or
agency's care.
(b) An animal shelter or releasing agency shall monthly
prepare the records required by Subsection (a).
(c) An animal shelter or releasing agency shall maintain
records prepared under Subsection (a) until at least the third
anniversary of the date the record was prepared.
(d) An animal shelter or releasing agency shall make the
records required by this section available to the public.
SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
an animal taken in or disposed of by an animal shelter or releasing
agency or counted in the shelter's or agency's animal total on or
after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.